Card-table.



No- 847,655.. PATBNTBD MAR. 19, 1907.

c. G. DAVIDSON;

(mm) TABLE.

urmculon rmzn 00w. a, 1965.

I THE NoRms FEIERS cm, WASHINGTON, u, c.

iinirnn STATES PATENT orrron.

CARD-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l atented March 19, 1907.

Application filed October 3, 1905. Serial No. 281,120.

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it knownthat 1, CHARLES G. DAVIDSON, a cltlzen of the United States,-residing-at-the city of New York, in theborough of Manhattan and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Card-Tables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact-description.

My invention relates to card-tables. In orderto combine the-advantages of an ordinary center table with'the features of a cardtable specially constructed for certain games, it hasbeenthe custom to make a form of center table having a reversible top, one side of which is plain and ornamental for the purposes of a center table and the other side of which is recessed with pockets and diagrammed for the predetermined games.

The presentinven'tion has for its object to extend the utility of such a card-table to a greater number of games than are capable of being played on any single diagram.

With this and other objects in view-my invention consists in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and finally particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a card-table embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, of a portion of the same. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail plan views of different diagrams or designs which maybe employed for different games in the use of my invention.

It will be understood thatwhile various card-gamescan be played upon an unmarked or undiagrammed surface that greater convenience and facility would result from a marked surface upon which the players might lay their cards and pieces. For example, in playing poker it is desirable to have a surface marked as shown in Fig. 3, this design being suitable to six players, a less number of segments being made for a fewer number. In addition to such above games, in which the convenience and facility is promoted by a diagrammed or marked surface,

there are many games for which a diagram is indispensablefor example, chess and checkers, which require a diagram, as in Fig. 4, roulette, backgammon, &c., all of which necessitate entirely separate designs of the board or surface upon which the game is played.

Iteferringnow to thedrawings and'to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, in which likeparts are designatedby the samereference-sign wherever they occur, 1 indicates a circular table'having legs 2 and a top '3, the central portion 4 of which-is a reversible disk or tablet swiveled on the line 5 5, so as to be capable of rotating on its diameter through an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees, so as to present its top or bottom face uppermost. In the drawing theface which is uppermost is the one designed for card games. It willbe understood that if the disk'or tablet were reversed that-a plainor otherwise ornamented surface would be presented suitable to'the requirements of acenter table. These features are of ordinary and well-known construction and form no part of my present invention.

The disk or table 4 is preferably arranged on its card-playing side with pockets 6, formed by radial projections 7 to contain cards, chips, glasses, playing-pieces, &c., of the respective layers. At the central portion of the tab e is a platform 8, which may be slightly elevated above the plane of the table-surface. This platform is for the pur pose of receiving the various cards or playing devices used in play. I have shown 'a convenient construction of the platform S, which provides a magazine for the reception of cards, chips, and the like, and whichalso provides for interchangeable playing-boards.

Referring to Fig. 2, 9 indicates a plate, which maybe hingedat 10 to a portion of the tablet 4, so as to constitute a cover for a'central recess 11 within said tablet. This recess may be used for the reception of cards, chips, &c., above mentioned. 12 indicates a clasp upon a portion ofthe tablet 4, arranged to engage a stud 13 upon the plate 9. The clasp 12 should be located substantially opposite the hinge 10, so that when engagedthe plate 9 will be held firmly closed over the recess 11. Surrounding the peripheral edge of the plate 9 is an annular clamping-ring 14, with an inwardly-extending flange 15 upon its upper edge. While I have shown this part as circular, I do not, of course, desire to be limited or restricted to this form, it being understood that a square or other shaped clamping member could be employed equally as well. By the use of the ICC term clamping-ring, therefore, I mean a frame of any shape having an inturned edge upon its upper surface. I arrange this ring in removable relation to the plate 9, and for this purpose I have shown a hinge 16, whereby the ring 1 1 may be tilted up away from the plate 9. 17 indicates a clasp upon the plate 9, engaging a stud 18 upon the ring 14, by which the latter may be firmly held in clamping relation over the plate. In order to permit the above movement of the ring 14, the latter is recessed or cut away adjacent to the stud 13, previously described, so that the ring may be freely raised without interference with the stud. The relative positions of the clasps 12 and 17 are not important; but I prefer to arrange them as illustrated. in Fig. 1namely, somewhat spaced apart and separated by an equal angular distance from the aXis 5 5 of the tablet 4.

The inwardly-extending flange 15, previously referred to, lies at a certain distance from the upper surface of the plate 5), and between the two I arrange a number of disks 20, the surfaces of which are specially marked for various gamessuch as poker, checkers, backgammon-and, if desired, certain disks may be left plain, as shown in Fig. 5, for other games or any purpose. These disks are preferably in the form of circular clothcovered cardboard sheets, although other materials and shapes may of course be used. The natural elasticity of the material mentioned is such as to firmly press the uppermost disk against the flange 15. In this Way the platform 8 has presented thereon a playing-board corresponding to the surface of the uppermost disk 20.

WVhen it is desired to play a new game or change the platform-surface for any purpose, the clasp 17 is loosened and. the clampingring 14 raised, so as to leave the pile of disks 20 loosely lying on the platform 9. It is then merely necessary to rearrange the disks and to present the side of any one of them uppermost which is desired, after which the ring 14. is again clamped down into position by the clasp 17. If at any time additional cards or chips are required, these may be obtained from the recess 11 by loosening the clasp 12 and raising the entire ring, disks, and plate 9 about the hinge 10. IN hen the clasps are engaged, everything is in locked relation, and the tabletamaybe reversed without disarranging the parts.

What I claim is 1. In a card-table, a hinged clamping-ring swinging upwardly from the top surface of the table, a plurality of playing-boards be neath said ring andv bearing upwardly there against by their own resiliency, and means" for holding said. ring in clamping relation, thereon.

2. In a card-table, a central platform having a plate, a clampingring having a flange above said plate, and a plurality of playing boards beneath said flange and firmly included between said flange and plate by their own resiliency.

3. In a card-table, a clamping-ring having an inu-ardly-extemling flange, a plurality of playing-imards beneath said flange having different designs upon both faces thereof, and means for releasing said. ring to swing upwardly from the table to expose said playing-boards whereby they may be rearranged.

1. In a card-table, a central platform ha ving a hinged plate, a plurality of playingboards upon said plate, and a clamping-ring hinged to said plate for removably holding said playing-boards in position.

In a card-table, a reversible tablet having central recess, a plate hinged to close over said recess, means for locking said plate in closed relation, a clamping-ring hinged to said plate, means for holding said clampingring in closed relation over said plate, and a. plurality of playing-boards upon said plate and secured by said clamping-ring.

6. In a card-table, a reversible tablet swiveled upon a diametrical axis, pockets within said tablet, a central ')latform upon said tablet having a recess, a plate hinged to close upon said recess, means for locking said plate in closed relation, a clamping-ring hinged to said plate, means for locking said elamping-ring upon said plate, and a plurality of playing-boards clamped between said plate and ring.

In witness whereof I subscribe my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. G. DAVIDSON. \Vitnesses:

FRANK 8.0mm, WALno M. OHAPIN. 

